Road marking device



' March 19, 1946. P. BLUMBERG ROAD MARKING DEVICE Filed Oct. 18, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 19, 1946. IP. BLUMBEIRG ROAD MARKING DEVICE Filed 001',- 18, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 f wemow Paul filumbe fg P. BLUMBERG ROAD MARKING DEVICE Filed Oct. 18, 1943 March 19, 1946.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 lnuenfor v PauZ 5111744527 Patented Mar. 19,1946

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE 2,396,981 ROAD MARKING DEVICE Paul Blumberg, New Holstein, Wis. Application October 18,1943, Serial No. 506,774 7 6 Claims.

This invention relates to highway marking devices and more particularly to an improved highway marker comprising a vehicle having a plurality of paint applicators and control devices therefor, all arranged to be conveniently operated by operators seated on the vehicle. This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 352,084,.filed August 10, 1940, issued as Patent No. 2,345,653, April 4, 1944.

It will be appreciated that in'the congested trafilc conditions now prevailing in most localities, it is highly important that highways be plainly and accurately marked in order to facilitate the movement of traflic and reduce the danger of accidents. It is, of course, very essential that the marking of highways shall be accomplished at low cost, and it is also highly desirable to be able to apply the markings at a relatively high rate of speed in order that a given section of highway may be marked during periods when the trafilc is comparatively light so that the marking operation will not unduly interfere with a the normal flow of tramc. It is-also essential to provide control devices such that the markings may be rapidly applied even when it is necessary to follow and duplicate existing markings which have become partially obliterated by wear.

Further, it is desirable that a highway marking device be provided with a plurality of paint applicators arranged so that they may be individually or simultaneously controlled to apply continuous parallel lines of different colors, interrupted lines, or any combination of the above commonly used as code indications of the trafiic regulations existing at a given point on thehigh- .way. For example, it is quite customary to separate individual lanes in a multiple lane highwayby a single line'and to separate the lanes devoted to tramc in one direction from the lanes devoted to traflic in the other direction by a double or triple line, usually in a color easily distinguishable from the color designating the boundaries of the individual lanes. In many States of the Union other code indications useful for, tramc control have been adopted, as for example the provision of an interrupted center line on those portions of a highway in which it is permissible to pass another vehicle, as contrasted with a solid or double line on curves or on approaches to hills, etc., where it is illegal to pass.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a highway marking device consisting of .a vehicle having a plurality of paint dependently operated by an operator seated on the vehicle in such a position that he may easily observe the operation of the paint applicators and may thus instantly note any improper line of the markings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a highway marking device, including improved control devices whereby the operator may easily and accurately following existing road markings even though the marking device is moving at a relatively high rate of speed. A further object of the invention is to provide improved high speed paint applicators whereby stripes of paint may be applied to a highway at a speed considerably greater than by the use of devices commonly utilized in the prior art.

A further important object of the invention is to provide automatic control devices for the paint applicators to permit each applicator to be individually or simultaneously controlled and to provide automatic means for interrupting the operation of the applicators to paint interrupted lines or to paint any combinations of solid lines or lines of difierent colors.

These and other important objects, which will appear hereinafter, are accomplished in the present invention by providing a vehicle adapted to be pushed by a truck or other tractor vehicle which will preferably also serve to carry paint supply tanks and an air compressor. The vehicle consists in general of a framework of tubular members having a pair of rear wheels spaced apart from each other and dual front wheels pivoted on a kingpin to permit steering. The paint applicators themselves consist of spray guns or air brushes as is well understood in the art. The paint applicators are each controlled by an individual air valve and a cam shaft is provided to simultaneously control all of these valves, if desired.

Now referring to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. -l is a side elevation of my highway marking device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

Fig. 1A shows an optional electrical equipment which will later be described in detail.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental side view'of the control device with the driving means shown somewhat diagrammatically.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation view of the control deapplicators arranged to be simultaneously or in 5 5 vice shown in Fig. 3.

The vehicle The vehicle is a conventional tubular frame structure arranged to be pushed by a truck. Inasmuch as the vehicle per se is not a part of this invention, it will not be described in detail. In general, I have given the same or similar parts the same numerals as the corresponding parts in my co-pending application in which the vehicle and its functions were described in detail.

The frame I is supported on two rear wheels I! and dual pivotal front wheels 2I, mounted in a conventional manner. The rear seat I8 is provided for the operator of the marker control device and the front seat I6 is provided for the steersmanr The steersman holds the vehicle in proper alignment by means of the hand wheel I", which traces the guide wheel over the center line of the roadway. The guide wheel is extended forwardly in proper position to align the vehicle and is supported by the fork 2M, the rod 202, and the pivotal clevis 203. The steersman controls the guide wheel by the hand wheel I", actuating the guide wheel 200 and the front wheel 2i by conventional chain and sprocket means 204, 205 and 206. The vehicle is pushed along the highway by a truck through conventional hook-up means I8I and I85.

Paint and air supply The paint supply and air compressor are preferably carried on the pusher truck. Three paint containers are provided to permit three color variations as may be required by the ofllcial highway marking code. The paint is supplied to headers II-I2 and 13, by hose lines, (not shown in the present drawings but well illustrated in my co-pending application); The headers in turn are connected to the three spray guns as will be well understood as explained in my copending application.

The compressed air to operate the spray guns is supplied by a flexible hose, (not shown) and is controlled to each individual spray gun by a control valve 83. The air enters at the connector 91 and is discharged through the outlet 98 to the spray gun 3|. Thus the flow of paint through to each gun is controlled by the air as outlined above.

Adjustable automatic valve control addition to the manual control of the spray guns which is always available to the operator.

In order to simplify the drawings and faciliment screw 2I2 with its companion nut 2I3 pivotally supported on the frame 2 I 0. By this structure it is apparent that the frame 2 II) can'be pivotally adjusted on the shaft II2 by the hand wheel 2I2'.

The hand lever I2I-I29 is mounted in subframe 2, slidably mounted on the frame 2! by the cross pin I26. The lever I21 may be moved from the central neutral position I32 as shown, to the automatic marking position I33, the same as described in my co-pending application. When in the automatic marking position I3I, the cam roller I2! is moved into contact with the cam H9 and is controlled by this cam. The cam roller actuates the air valve 83 through the levers I22-I24 and the valve rod 89. When the lever I21 is in continuous marking position I33, the valve 83 is held open by the same system of levers.

By the pivotal mounting of the frame "2) and sub-frame 2M on the cross shaft II2, the frames may be adjustably pivoted around the shaft II2 by the hand wheel 2I2', and the adjustable screw mechanism 2i I, 2I2, and 2 I3, bearing on the cross frame 82. It will be obvious that the cam roller is thus moved radially around the drum H8 and is thus adjustable in its relation to the cams H9. Thus I provide means to advance or retard the opening of the valve 83, and the marking of the roadway.

The sub frame 2I4 is further slidably supported by a cross screw 2 l 5 in the frame 2I0 by means of a nut inserted in the sub frame 2M. By this structure the cam roller IZI may now be moved sidewise in relation to the cams H9. Now referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that I provide angular faces H9, on the cams H9 and thus a variable cam surface is presented to the cam roller IZI. By this structure I am able to vary the length of the dotted lines tocorrespond to the marks on the highway and thus may retrace or renew such marks.

The cam cross shaft H2 is driven at any desired speed to correspond with the cams H9 by a drive wheel 2I6 pivotally mounted on the frame III by bracket structure 2|'I2I82I9-220, as

shown and may be moved onto or out of contact with the roadway by conventional lever mechanism 220a22I--222. as best shown in Fig. 1. Thus it will be apparent that I have provided means to stop and start the control devices at the will of the operator. Although the extra drive wheel 2 I 6 is shown and described, I desire to point out that the same results could be obtained by driving from the rear wheels ll through a conventional clutch. The control of the spray shields 32 and the spray gun 3| is accomplished in a tate the description, I have illustrated only the similar manner as in my co-pending application, by the lever 22Gb through the link 223 attached to the pivotal suspension mechanisms 4649' I4Il-M2I45--l4'l as shown. This mechanism is conventional and will not be described in detail. It will be understood that the shield and spray gun are pivotally adjusted in relation to the roadway in a similar manner as that described in my copending application and that this movement is controlled by the lever 220 through the link 223.

Setting of cams Although the adjustment of the marker drive as previously described will permit a considerable adjustment, it has been my experience that these adjustments do not have sufiicient range to cover all practical requirements. It is necessary, therefore, to provide means wherebythe operator.

cam drive shaft H2 is-mounted in the cabinet" cams H9 can be brought to a starting. position closely approximating the proper starting point In order to accomplish this'repositioned to stop the drum at approximately the point where the camroller l2l contacts the dual cam "9 By thisarrangement the operator is enabled to bring any cam into approximately .the

proper position to open the air valve and to start the mark. Any further adjustment may be easily accomplished by the hand wheels 2l2' or 2l5'.

Optional electrical control Although Ihave described a preferred embodiment of my invention, utilizing mechanical control means, it is obvious that the same results can be accomplished electrically and I have built and successfully operated such electrical devices. To do this I have an enclosed cabinet, shown in small Fig. 1A, mounted within easy reach of the A cross shaft 231 corresponding to. the

and driven by belt and pulley drives 238-239 and 240 as shownin dotted outline.

Electrical contact drums similar to drums H8 are mounted on the shaft 23'! and electrical contact plates corresponding to the cams H9 are inserted in the drums. controlled air valves 83' are substituted for the mechanical air valves 83 and electrical circuits connected between the cam-like contacts on the drum and the, solenoid valves. Push button switches control the closing of the cam circuits. another button switch controls a separate continuous full line circuit, and a third button switch cuts oil both circuits. As the electrical contacts are very light, I arrange to merely slip the drums on the drive shaft to provide the drum adjustment to starting position. Ithus provide electrimechanical means described.

C'am drum drive mechanisms from the drive wheel 2| 6 as best shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3 by the connect- Conventional solenoid I (b) Controlling the starting point 01 such lines to coincide with the existing lines in order that such lines may be retraced and renewed. 7

Although my invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment-thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since modifications and alterations can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an intermittent traiiic-line marking device, a wheeled vehicle, a spray gun for painting traific lines mounted on the vehicle, a controlvalve for starting and stopping the operation of the gun, mechanically adjustable actuating means for the control valve, to vary the lengths of intermittent lines, driving means for the actuating means including a vehicle wheel, clutch means to interrupt the driving means, means operable while the machine is in motion for adjusting the adjustable actuating means, whereby intermittent lines of variable lengths and gaps may be marked and existing lines of the highway may be traced.

2. In a traflicmarker as defined in claim 1: including mechanical means toreturn and reset the valve actuating means to a position closely adjacent the valve opening position of the actuating means.

3. In a traffic marker as defined in claim 1: in-

eluding mechanical means to return and reset the valve actuating means to a position closely adjacal means to accomplish the same results as the ed drive mechanism 224-225-226-221-228- 229-430 and 23L It will be appreciated that this drive isproportioned and arranged to drive the .cam drums at the speed to make the proper lengths of roadway marks as determined by the cams H9.

Summary In the foregoing drawings and specifications I have described and explained the improvements tional means for,

cent the valve opening position of the actuating means, said mechanical reset means of the valve actuating means being rapidly operable while the vehicle is in motion.

4. In. a traflic marker as specified in claim 1:

said valve actuating means including a solenoid.

5. In an intermittent traffic-line marking device, a wheeled vehicle, a spray gun for painting traflic lines mounted on the vehicle, a control valve for starting and stopping the operation of the gun, adjustable actuating means for the control valve including a rotatable drum with a cam mounted thereon having an actuating face tapered rearwardly with respect to a radial plane a of the drum, driving means for the actuating means including a vehicle wheel adapted to be raised out of contact with the roadway to interrupt the drive and to be lowered into contact to" pered rearwardly with respect\to a radial plane (a) Adjusting the lengths of the broken or dotted lines, even while the road marking vehicle is in motion, to correspond with existing lines on the highwayrand PAUL BLUMBERG. 

